Panthers ‘pick up shovel’

If you are old enough for memories of a Y2K threat, you are old enough to recall the late stages of a Jersey run that produced 11 Valley championships in addition to 20-victory seasons in 15 of 16 years from 1986-2001.

Trophies behind glass in the Havens Gym lobby and a banner on the gym wall offer proof of the glory years.

But with three different head coaches in the last three seasons, the Panthers program renews its effort to rebuild. Kevin Strebel has replaced Stephanie Harris, who replaced Terri Taake has Jersey coach.

Strebel was an assistant under coach Bryan Brown when the Panthers made the Class AA state finals in 2000. He experienced the success first-hand. He also knows the task currently at hand after just one winning season in the last 12.

“When you walk away from some of these games,” Strebel said after a 1-3 finish at the Jersey Holiday Tournament left his Panthers with a 4-11 record that includes a 0-5 mark in the Mississippi Valley Conference, “you feel like there’s a mountain ahead of you. But all you can do is pick up the shovel and get to work.”

Job No. 1 is getting competitive in the Valley.

“Years ago, we had 11 conference championships in a row,” Strebel said. “To think that we’re 0-5, that seems unacceptable to me. But it’s not going to change overnight.”

The Panthers played at Greenfield on Monday night and Carlinville visits Jerseyville on Thursday before Jersey begins the second half of its MVC schedule at noon Saturday against Highland in the first of five games (four boys) in the Highland Optimists Shootout.

“One of our goals is — we went 0-5 first time through the conference — we do not want to 0-5 the second time through,” Strebel said. “I really don’t think that’s much to ask. I expect to be, at the worst 2-3, maybe 3-2 over the last five. That’s a step.”

The first of many for Jersey. And, Strebel said, “it’s going to start with one senior.”

Lia Roundcount may not be around for the rewards, but the roster’s lone senior is helping build the foundation. The 6-foot Roundcount averages in double figures and is the team’s second-leading scorer behind sophomore Mackenzie Thurston.

“There are a lot of things that, hopefully, we’re not having to deal with when these sophomores that are playing a lot are seniors, or even next year,” Strebel said. “It’s a matter of growing together as a team.”

There is promise in a group led by the 5-7 Thurston and featuring juniors Aly Varble (5-9), Lauren Davis (5-7), Caroline Crawford (5-4) and Ally Schroeder (5-8), and sophomores Kiara Chapman (5-7) and Bethany Muenstermann (5-7).

Strebel concedes “some frustrating moments” in a 4-11 start and the possibility that a losing culture has infected a once-mighty girls basketball program. But he is also convinced success can be reclaimed at Jersey.

“It can be done here,” Strebel said, “and it hasn’t been that long. But there weren’t many of these players alive during those seasons. You can’t say, just look at the banner on the wall and that will take you back there.

“You have to get everybody pulling in the same direction and we need a group willing to put in the work and do that. I think that’s the group we have in that locker room. At least I hope so.”